The Royal Australian Air Force will acquire an additional C-17 airlifter—its sixth—under a $297 million (some $280 million Australian) foreign military sale with the US government, announced Australia’s defense ministry on Monday. The additional aircraft will greatly enhance Australia’s humanitarian and disaster-response capability, doubling its mission-available fleet “from two to four,” according to the defense ministry. Australia took delivery of its fifth C-17 last September, and in the last year alone, its C-17s have flown some 141 airlift sorties, logging more than 1.2 million nautical miles, it stated. In addition to ferrying 755 tons of supplies to Australian forces in Afghanistan, RAAF C-17s carried 500 tons of supplies to Japan following last spring’s tsunami and earthquake, to New Zealand following an earthquake, and to parts of Australia after a cyclone and flooding. The C-17 is scheduled for delivery from Boeing’s plant at Long Beach, Calif., early next year, according to the defense ministry.
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.